Rise in Unemployment

A Downing Street spokeswoman said:

We are sticking to our plan to deal with the deficit and try to promote growth and jobs.

We think the figures show that the private sector is actually still creating jobs and the number of vacancies has held firm. Private sector employment is up 45,000 in the latest quarter, and that more than offsets the fall in public sector employment.

Asked whether the Prime Minister was concerned that women do not appear to be doing as well as men in finding jobs, the spokeswoman added:

The figures do show that the number of women in work has risen on the previous quarter and the (female) employment rate is anyway at a historically high level, despite the recession.

For those women who are out of work, there is the Work Programme, which does give tailored back-to-work support, and the Government is doing other work to help expand access to childcare, for example, so there is help available.

• UK
• Unemployment
• South West

At just 18 years old Ian Banwell is running is own coach company.

The young entrepreneur is bucking the trend as unemployment figures show a rise in unemployment in the South West.

• UK
• Unemployment
• South West

Unemployment has risen in the South West according to new figures from the office for national statistics.

4,000 more people were out of work from December to February when compared to the previous quarter. The region has bucked the national trend which saw unemployment falling by 35,000.

• UK
• Unemployment
• South West